DVSA Update Allows Leeway for Forward Facing Camera Placement

There are a growing number of items in the truck cab competing for dashboard real estate and until now none of them were permitted to encroach the swept area of the windscreen by more than 40mm.

This has, in the past, made it a challenge when placing forward facing cameras on the windscreen to ensure they comply with regulations and have the best possible view of the road ahead.

The good news is that has all changed. A new standard called 9at IM23, introduced in May this year, removes the specific measurement and only asks that items like cameras and stickers do not “seriously restrict the drivers view”.

This may all sound fairly inconsequential but it gives leeway to allow forward facing cameras to be repositioned, enabling a better view of the road. This can be important when vehicle features like sun visors make it difficult to position cameras exactly where you would like them to be.

The updated rules also apply to other features including:

  • smoking signs
  • maximum height signs
  • maintenance information stickers
  • other non-mandatory signs or stickers
  • Laptops/tablets/mobile phones/satellite navigation which is not original equipment
  • Dash mount monitors/control systems

Section 23 of the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Inspection Manual covers off acceptable items which can encroach into the swept area in detail.

Download the manual